Bigelow wanted Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont to tour the facility where it manufactures commercial space stations because the company was interested in doing business with a Missoula-based firm, Inland Northwest Space Alliance.

Iverson said Rehberg had helped obtain $500,000 in a federal aid for Montana’s budding aerospace industry and Bigelow hoped the three-term lawmaker could get more funding.

The trip proved worthwhile, with Bigelow hiring the alliance to do some research in Missoula